Visiting Virginia's Civil War sites

THE BEST WAY TO VIRGINIA'S CIVIL WAR SITES

From LAX, nonstop service to Washington Dulles (in Virginia) is offered on United, American and Virgin America; direct service (stop, no change of plane) is offered on Southwest, and connecting service (change of plane) is offered on Southwest, Delta, America, US Airways and United. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $504.

Richmond is about 110 miles south of Washington Dulles.

Appomattox is about 95 miles southwest of Richmond. Go west on U.S. 360 (Hull Street Road) past the Virginia 288 beltway around the metro region's southern edge, and about 30 miles beyond 288, veer right on Virginia 307 toward Farmville. Continue west on U.S. 460 to Appomattox and exit on Virginia 24 (Old Courthouse Road) to reach the national historical park.

Richmond National Battlefield Park encompasses four major actions and 13 sites scattered around the region. The starting place is downtown on the James River at the Civil War Visitors Center at Tredegar Iron Works, 470 Tredegar St., Richmond. Free admission. (804) 226-1981, http://www.nps.gov/rich.

The American Civil War Center explores the war from Union, Confederate and African American perspectives in another historic Tredegar Iron Works building. Admission is $8 adults, $6 seniors, $2 children. (804) 780-1865, http://www.tredegar.org.

The Museum of the Confederacy at 12th and Clay Street in Richmond has one of the largest collections of Confederate memorabilia in the world as well as the restored house where the Confederate president lived. A combo ticket costs $12 for adults, $7 for ages 7-13. (804) 649-1861, http://www.moc.org.

Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Blvd., Richmond, offers an interactive experience on an escaped slave's journey to freedom as part of its signature exhibition of artifacts and stories for Virginia's 150th Civil War commemoration. Exhibit continues through Dec. 31, then travels around the state. Free admission. (804) 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org.

Ft. Pocahontas, (804) 829-9722, http://www.fortpocahontas.org, is at Willis Wharf in Charles City County, about 35 miles east of Richmond near Sherwood Forest Plantation. Reenactments of the Confederate attack on U.S. Colored Troops will be held at 1 p.m. May 21 and 22. Admission: $10 adults per day or $15 for the weekend.